Development of a 3D display system for biplane cerebral angiography, using a personal computer (PC) system

To improve the total safety for the biplane cerebral angiographic examination, the authors have developed a new three dimensional (3D) display system. By applying this system, shortening the examination time and reducing the risk of infection and embolization were achieved. The authors added just one Windows-NT based Personal Computer (PC) for 3D reconstruction to an ordinary biplane digital-cine-angiography system. This system can process the images of angiogram extempore in a short time and display the run of arterial vessels to the examiner. Biplane images were taken from the digital-cine-angiography system into the PC through a video display and video capture card. Three dimensional positions were calculated and displayed on a CRT monitor. It took about 30 seconds for the calculation. This system could display instantly the run of arterial vessels from any angle by using the computer mouse. The authors' system doesn't disturb the examination, but helps them to understand the run of the arterial vessels. This system was useful in cases where the arteries wound their way around or overlapped each other.